Tire inflater



March 14, 1944- A VERNE D. LYON ETAL 2,344,256

TIRE INFLATOR Filed Jan. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 14, 1944. LA VERNE D. LYON ETAL 2,344,256

TIRE INFLATOR Filed Jan'. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENToR. cu/ern@ measuringl `ap par atus ,1 'in -a Cylinder forming-a char-ging .zchamhenthe Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED -STIXI`IE1S PA'I EN T .()flr-IlCl?. 344,256 n TIRE "INFLATER Verne Dean Lyon, Goshen, 'and John J. .Rothwell`EIkhart, Ind assignors to Penn 'Electric "S'wite'nCo, Goshen, Ind., va 'corporation of Iowa. Application January 26, 19.42, Serial'Na 428,270

ably condensed so as tolti-t' lintorarelatively small casing.

-Stil-l-a further obec't-is toprovi'de a ftire inater utili-zing 4a toggle springiandltogg-le. lever arrangementas distinguished iromia'- v-over-rollerfsnap- `actingmeohanism,.as in `the Penn patent, whereby the differential of operation lis substantiallyireduced.

Another object is vto :provide a tire '.in'ater utilizing .-a bellows vfor operating the .pressure the bellows :beingsarranged sizeof which .is onelo'ffthe determining factors for the operating characteristicsiof thetireinater.

Still another object isiltolprcviiieia'tireiniiater Lincluding -a valve unitiwhich may Toe :readily :removed lfor replacement of the iva'lves, thus facilitatin'g the servicingo'f the inater.

lWith these ,and other .objects in view, 4our-:invention vrconsists 'in `:the construction, arrange 'ment-and combination-.of Lthe various :parts ofV our vdevice whereby the-objects. :contemplated :are Llattained, as hereinafter more' f-ullys'et'fortlripointed out in Iour claims `and-illustratedY in 'thea-ecom- `panyingdrawings. AAithoughtheinventiorrissusceptible of Ka variety "of embodiments, it iis 1un necessary to fully describe and l'illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding A'of the invention Vlo'oth fromiits structural 'andfunctional standpoints. Accordingly,A We have, illustrated Aa pre'ferredand desirahlejernbodirhent of the .invention in the. accompanying drawings,"Y in -Which:.

'Figure -2 is an .endfview fiithelilateigtherend shownbeing the right-handendofgEignrefl.; l

lI'igure isa fbottom plan view-.of}l31igure 1; Figure-'4 is an end Viewv oppositethat illus- `'Figure `5 -is an enlarged rsectional@view aon .the

line 5-5 of Fig-ure 4 showing ,-the-.detailsof a .valve .unil-assembly on an enlarged scale.

On the accompanying ,drawings `I have fused the reference numeral I I) to indicate aoylinder. .'Ihe cylinder I0.is interposed between gaskets IZaand I3 and fend plates M and I5. Four tie bolts .I5 retain the end plates Withrespectto the `cylinder .ID and `compress the vgaskets 122, and I3 tojprevent .leakage "from ,the interior;,ofjthecylinden VThe -endY plates I4 and I5 have extensions .laterally fromfthe cylinder IILthe-extenslons in Figure 1 being `illustrated :as upward `from lthe oylinder. Two pairs of screws'll I and-a pair .of ,spaoergrods I8 are providedrfor spacing the'npvszard-extenu `sions :of the uplates .I4 and j|5 parallel otoeeazh other. Arange spring I9-is locatedioetween :the plates |4fand I5, its ends vbeingac oniinedgkntween VWashers 2U and 2 I. The washer 20-has a-threaded sleeve 2 2 in which an adjusting Sereyv23is,thread ed. The adjustingfsorew v23 isV rotatable and non- -sIidabIe in a -perforationlll oitheend l:plate ,I4

and has 1a; gear 25 on vthe ontsidefo'f the endzplate and a stop flange 26 on the inside thereof. .A crank 2'I is secured to theadjusting screw 23 for rotating the same, as desired. The geai` 25 is adapted to bemeshed Wi'ththe-gear otanindcating dial (not shown) The-'range spring yWasher 2| has astud'ZB-connested thereto A'and--terminating -in .a :prismsilike l The stud 128 :extends slidably 'through `a "perforation 3U of 1"the end nplate II-'5. The end Aplate :I5 `is channel-shaped, the flanges -thereo'f being indicated :at 32|. .Through the iia'nges'l fa prism-shaped-fpivot barISZGismOunted.

seat 434 at its centenadaptedto pivot. :against l'the pivotbar 32. other V-seats Afand :35. "Ihe lseat '35 receives :the pivot Vloar :29 ofthe range spring I'9.

The operating Xlever-33 :ha's .two

:Within the cylinder `m fabeuows 3151s mounted. One lend .of .the `bellows'is sealedzrelativeto the ..en'd;p1ate .I 5. and :the .fotherend is sealedbyvaisnut 38 relative xtora. stem 3.9. .The `stem 3.9..;:has a prism-'shaped pivot- 4.0 coasting with .the iV-.seat

3.6- and :hasL a, reduced vportion 4H on which sthe mit 38,iszthreaded..

-fllmprov-ide ktoggle aotionifor the @matingloller vi311v provide -apair of toggle .rlevers.142 onda .pair

of togglelinks 143. The"toggledeversAZ.,aregin lonitlfreflanges 3| .ofethefend platel. llheitgggle ,-leversAZ each haveasecondipair of Naseatsad f eoacting-With points 4'lf`formedonthe,togglelinks ,43. v.The operating xlev,er..33 a Ipairi-'of :poixits ing from the end plate I5, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3.

A valve unit is mounted on the end plate I4 and includes a body portion 53 secured thereto, as by screws 54. IA gasket 55-is interposed between the valve body 53 and the end plate I4 to prevent leakage.

In the valve body 53 a seat 58 is provided for a valve 58. The valve 58 is normally seated bya spring 59 and access may be had to the valve by removing a closure nut 60. l

The valve seat 56 is located between an inlet 6I `from a supply tank Gib or other source of compressed air, and an outlet 62 which extends to a tire chuck 62h. An air line 6Ia Vconnects the tank 6Ib to theinlet 6I, and an air line or hose 62a connects the outlet 62 with the tire'chuck 62h. Theparts Bla, SIb, 62a and 62b are shown diagrammatically. The valve 58 is adapted to be operated by the stem 39 through its reduced por- .tion 4I and the thrust pin 53. The thrust pin 63 extends slidably through a bore 64a of the sleeve 64,'there being approximately .004 inch clearance. Such clearance provides a restricted passageway for air-ilow, as will hereinafter appear. Similarly, a stern 58a of the valve 58 extends through a bore 65 of the valve body 53 which has a comparable degree of clearance to provide for restricted or minimum air-now.

A check valve body 86 is screwed into the valve body 53 and is provided with a seat 61. A check valve 58 is normally seated against the seat 61-by Aa spring 69. Y

` Practical operation In the operation of our tire iniiater, assuming that it is desired to put a predetermined pressure,

as thirty pounds, of air into a tire, the operator turns the crank 21 until the indicatingdial (not shown), meshed with the gearv25, registers thirty pounds in substantially the same manner as disvopposite that shown in Figure 1, with the valve 58 closed due to pressure in the cylinder I0 acting on the bellows 31 to overcome the tension of the wrange spring I9. The air pressure in the cylinder I0 is trapped in the air hose 62a, connected with 'the outlet 62 by the closed tire chuck 62b thereon.

When the tire chuck is applied to the valve of the tirepthe chuck is openedin a well-known manner, thus causing a pressure drop inthe outlet v 62, and likewise in the cylinder I8, such drop being readily permitted in the cylinder due to the -check valve 68 opening against the tension of thelight spring 69. The pressure drop in the -cylinder I8 permits the range springv I9 to rockt the operating lever 33 clockwise so that it snaps overldead center to the position of Figure'l, thus [Opening the lvalve`58sothat tank air maypass through the valve. The air closes the check valve 68 a-nd'passesV through'the outlet B2 tothe tire,l

closed in the Pennpatent. .The normally closed as welles through the bores and 64a. The passage of the air through the bores 65 and 64L is relatively slow, so that it takes some little time for the air pressure to build up in the cylinder I0. The size of the cylinder also determines the length of this pressure build-up period.

When the pressure in the cylinder I0 has built up to a point that it causes the bellows 31 to overcome the tension of the range spring I9, the operating lever 33 will snap to the position opposite Figure l, thus closing the valve 58 after a predetermined shot of air has passed to the tire. The air pressure in the cylinder I0 now quickly equalizes with that in the tire by opening the check valve 68 and passing through it, and if the equalized pressure is insufficient to keep the range spring I9 from moving the operating lever 33 again to the position of Figure 1, there will be another shot of air, and such shots will continue until the tire has been lled to the setting of the adjusting'screw 23. When such pressure has been reached in the tire, then the pressure will be high enough in the cylinder I0 to prevent the range spring I9 from snapping the operating lever 33 over center, .and the cessation of operating cycles will indicate to the operator that the tire has been lled to the desired pressure,

When the tire inflater is not in use, the pressure built up in the air hose against the tire chuck and in the cylinder I0 keeps the bellows 31 under pressure to yovercome the tension of the spring I9 so that operation of the tire inilater will not occur until another tire of insuilicient pressure is iilled, unless, of course, there are leaks in the air hose or chuck.

We have found that our arrangement of parts with the check valve 68 and the valve 58 mounted closely adjacent each other in the valve body 53, as well as the use of a toggle spring arrangement, makes it possible for our tire inater to be operated at output pressure closely approximating input pressure. The two pressures are much closer than possible with the type of arrangement shown in the Penn patent. Accordingly, our tire inater may be used in connection with truck tires requiring as high as one -hundred pounds per square inch where the tank pressure usually carried does not exceed one hundred and twenty-ve pounds. At the'same time, our device has been designed so that it is compact and may accordingly t into a relatively small rectangular casing Without, however, sacriiicing accessibility to the valves 58 and 68 in the valve body 53. The valve body being readily removable, permits access to both valves for reseating, or renewal, as required. The arrangement is such that it eliminates copper tube connections and long passageways ofthe Penn patent, thus contributing to operation of the tire iniiater at an output pressure much closer to the input pressure.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our'.device Without departing from the real spirit and pur- 65 f pose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modiiled forms of vstructure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within theirdscope.

, We claim asrour invention:4

1. In a tire inflater, an'air service line'lneans for discharging air in successive charges through said line comprising a valve therein, a lever, pressure actuated operating means therefor including a chamber having an opening'and an operating pin in said chamber, said valve having the outlet-'slide o'f saidva'lve said lever bein-g operatively connected with said valve through said operating l-stem and said valve stem, toggle lever and spring means 'for imparting snap action movement to said lever and thereby snap action to said valve, means acting on said lever in resistance tothe yair pressure thereon, and a check valve connection Vbetween said chamber and said outlet, said check valve connection opening 'to- `ward said outlet. f

2. In -a device of the class described, van -air service line having 1a :tire chuck, means'for discharging air in successive Acharges through said line when'saidjchuck 'is open Vcomprising avalve in said-Jair service "line, a lever,a pressure chamber including a movable part for operati-ng said lever, a restricted passage for subjecting said chamber 'to pressure in the air line between said chuck 4and said valve,`said lever being operatively connected with'said valve, toggle lever and spring means :for imparting snap :acting movement Ato said valve, means acting on -said "lever in resistance to the `air pressure thereon, and a check valve 'connection between 'said-pressure Achamber andsaidoutlet, *said checkvalve connection being independent of 'said lrestricted passage and open-v ing `toward said outlet.

3. In an air service device, aline Yfor conducting Compressed air, atire chuck-atfthe ldischarge end thereof, 'a vvalve'in said line, an'dmeans for successively opening land closing said valve for supplying air therethrough in successive 'charges when vsaidtire :chuck yis opened, said means includirrg a bellows chamber, a vbe'llowsclosin'g one end thereof, 'said valve closing `the other `end thereof, restricted passage means connecting 'said chamber 'with the line between vs aid tire ychuck andsaid'valve, a check valve'independentof said vrestricted passage `means and aording easy 'and lservice line 4having a discharge portion provided with la tire chuck, and means for discharging 'air in *successive charges 'when said tire chuck Vis opened, comprising a valve in the air service line, ailever, means lfor subjectingthe lever to pressure in :the fair' line between said tire chu'ck'an'd said valve, the service line -having -a restricted :passage associated with said valve and leading to *a pressure actuated memberl adapted to actuate said lever, 'a 'check' valve te permit air to pass freely therefrom, a quick action device for said lever imparting movement to said rst valve, and means for acting on said lever in resistance to the air pressure thereon.

5. In a tire infiating apparatus, an air service line adapted to discharge air into a tire, an inlet valve for said service line adapted, when open, to admit air more rapidly than it normally passes into a tire, a guide opening for said inlet valve, means providing a chamber, said guide opening constituting a restricted passage connecting said line andsaid chamber, a check valve adapted to permit air to pass freely therethrough from said chamber to said service line, and means controlling said inlet 'valve 'in :accordance 'with fpressure Vin said chamber.

f6. In tire inafifrngv apparatus, 'an air :service line adapted to discharge v:air iinto satire, an inlet valve ffor :said `fline adapted, when fopen, to radmit '-air `more rapidly than itjnorma'lly 'passes 'Sinto a tire, means providing aref-elongated Lchamber, ra valve body at one lend of said chamber, said inlet valve being @mounted therein yand having Aa stem, "said chamber having .an vopening `for said stem sand constituting :a restricted passage Vinto the jclframber iff-rom said inlet valve, a check valve `adapted to *perm-Tit -air `te pass freely 'from said chamber to `said lfline, `and'means for yopening said inlet wail-ve when 'the 1n essur-er 'in Isaid chamber falls jta predeterniined-pressure'and closing said inlet valve when the 'pressure in said chamber rises above fsa'fid predetermined pressure.

' '7; 'In a tire finfiater, Y-a cylinder, a pair of end plates thereon, an operating lever 4pivoted on one of saidfend "plates, toggle Vlevers at the ends of said operating lever and pivoted to said one end plate, -toggle linkjconnections between the ends of said operating lever. and said :toggle levers, a bellows fior said j'cylinder, avalve unit, said valve uni-t comprising "a body having 'an 'inlet for Iair from asupp'ly tank -and yan Aoutlet lto 4a tire or the like,` a 'valve between `said' 'inlet and outlet, a stem connected with said lever for operating said valve, a 'check uvalve providing AVfor free airflow from th'e 4'interior 'of said A'cylinder' to said outlety and preventing reverse air now ifrom said outlet to the "interior 'of :said cylinder, and` aY restricted opening from said :outlet tothe interior of said cylinder vproviding for .minimum air flow from 'said outlet 'tofsa'id cylinder.

8, YIn a vrtire inii'ater, a cylinder, 'apair of .end plates thereon, 2in operating .lever pivoted on one o1' said 'endplaitea `toggle levers at the ends oi .said operating lever and pivoted to said one end "plate, 'toggle link 'connections .between the ends of said operatingflever Yand said. toggle levers, 'toggle springs extending .from .one of .said toggleflevers 'tothe other one, `.a .bellows vfor said cylinder, a valve unit .comprising .a Ybody Ahaving an 'irleteor air from..a suppiytank and an outlet .to atire-or the lke,.a valvebetween .said inlet and ontlet, .astem for .operating said valve, said stem Lbeing .sealingly connected ,to said 'operating flever, said-valve .unit .having a check valve therein providing for .free air vflow vfrom the inter'or, of :said `cylinder .to ysaid Voutlet .and ,preventing reverse a'ir flow .from said @outletlto the yinterior oisaid `cylinder, anda restricted `opening 4from lsaid .outlet ,to theinterior of ,said cylinder providingfor airfflow fromsaid outlet tosaid cylinder.. d

,-9, In a tire iniiatenafcylinder, a pair yof end platesl thereon having .extensensylaterally from said cylinder, a range spring and an adjusting screw therefor mounted in said extensions, an operating lever pivoted on one of said end plates, said one end plate being channel-shaped and having a pivot for said operating lever extending between the flanges of the end plate, toggle 1evers at the ends of said operating lever and pivoted to said one end plate, toggle link connections between the ends of said operating lever and said toggle levers, a bellows for said cylinder, a removable valve unit, said valve unit comprising a body having an inlet for air from a supply tank and an outlet to a tire or the like, a valve between said inlet and outlet, a stem connected with said lever for operating said valve,

a check valve providing, for free air iiow from the interior of said cylinder to said' outlet and preventing reverse air ilow from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder, and a restricted opening from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder providing -for ,minimum air ilow from said outlet to said cylinder.

10. In a tirevinater, a cylinder, a pair of end plates thereon vhaving extensions laterally from said cylinder; a range spring and an adjusting screw therefor mounted in said extensions, an operating lever pivoted on one of said end plates, said one end plate being channel-shaped and having a pivot for'saidl operating lever extending between the iianges of the end plate, togglelevers at the ends of said operating lever and pivoted to said one end plate, toggle link connections between the ends of saidoperating lever and said toggle levers, toggle springs extending from one of said toggle levers to the other one, a bellows closing one end of said cylinder, a removable valve unit closing -the other end of said cylinder, said valve unit comprising a body having an inlet for air from asupply tank and an outlet to a tire or vthe like, a valve between said inlet and outlet, a stem for operating said valve, said stembeing sealingly connected to said operating lever, said valve unit having a check valve therein providing for free air ilowA from the interior lofsaid cylinderto said outlet andpreventing reverse airflow from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder, and a restricted opening from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder providing for minimum airllow from said outlet to said cylinder.

11. In a tire inflater, a cylinder, a pairof end plates thereon having extensions laterallyfrom said cylinder, tie rods for connecting said end plates to said cylinder, a range spring between said end plates, an adjustingscrew rotatable in one of said end plates and threadedly coacting with one end of saidv range spring, the other of said end plates being channel-shaped and having an opening, :an operating element connected with said range spring yand extending through said opening, an operating lever pivoted between the flanges of said other end plate, said operating element contacting'therewith under the pressure of said range spring, toggle levers at the ends of said operating lever .and pivoted to the flanges of said other end plate, toggle links interposed between said toggle levers and lthe ends of said operating lever, springs connecting said toggle levers together to effect toggleaction of the toggle levers and toggle links on said operating lever, a bellows closing one end of said cylinder, a removable valve unit closing the other end thereof, said valve unit comprising a body having an inlet from an air supply tank and an outlet to a tire or the lil e, ay valve between said inlet and outlet, a stem for operating said valve, said stem being Yconnected with said bellows and en gaging said Operating lever to operate the same depending upon air pressure in said cylinder in opposition to said range spring, said valve unit having a check valve therein opening from the interior of said cylinder toward said outlet, and a restricted opening for providing minimum air flow from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder. v

12, In a tire nflatena cylinder, a lpair of end plates thereon having extensions laterally from said cylinder, a range spring between said end p1ates, an adjusting screw rotatable iny one of said end plates and threadedly coacting with one lend of said vrange spring, theother of said en d plates having an opening therethrough, an operating element connected with said range vspring and extending through said opening, an operating lever pivoted to said other end plate, said operating element contacting therewith under the pressure of said range spring, toggle mechanism for said operating lever, a bellows closing one end of said cylinder, a valve unit closing the other end thereof, said valve unit comprising a body having an inlet from an air supply tankand an outlet to a tire or the like, a valve between said inlet and outlet, a stem for operating said valve, lsaid stem being connected with said bellows and engaging said operating lever tooperate the same 'depending upon air pressure in said cylinder in opposition to said range spring, a check valve opening from the interior of said cylinder toward said outlet, and la restricted opening for providing minimum air flow from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder.

13. In a tire inflater, a cylinder, a range spring, an adjusting screw for said range spring, an operating element connected with said range spring, an operating lever, said operating element contacting therewith under the pressure of said range spring, means to effect toggle action on said operating lever, a bellows closing one end r of said cylinder, a removable valve unit closing the other end thereof, said valve unit comprising a body having an inlet from an air supply tank and an outlet to a tire or thelike, a valve between said inlet and outlet, a stem for operating said valve, said stem being connected with said bellows and Vengaging said operating lever to operate'the same depending upon air pressure in said cylinder in opposition to said range spring, said valve unit having a check valve therein opening from the interior of said cylinder toward said outlet and a restricted opening for providing minimum air iiow from said outlet to the interior of said cylinder.

LA VERNE DEAN LYON'.

JOHN J. ROTHWELL. 

